Means for making bearing linings or sleeves



4 Sheets-Sheet l B. STOCKFLETH MEANS FOR MAKING BEARING LININGS OR SLEEVES Filed Aug. 20, 1928 May 5, 1931.

May 5, 1931. B. sTocKr-'LETH 1,803,513 MEANS FOR MAKING BEARING LININGS 0R SALEEVS Filed Aug. 2o. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 5 1W/ W1 m M l. M 5 w May 5, 1931. B. srocKFLETH 1,803,513

MEANS FOR MAKING BEARING LININGS 0R SLEEVES Filed Aug. 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 g//fcyl I- @MMQI amy@ May 5, 1931- 4 E B. sTocKl-LETH 1,803,513

MEANS FOR MAKING BEARING LININGS OR SLEEVES Filed Aug. 20. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 957 .4 lxy 56 17 Patented May 1931` f UNITED sTATEs rPA'rlazla'l OFFICE BERG-ER STOCKFLET, OF N ILES, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 PESSED BEAR- ING COMPANY, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OIE DELAWARE MEANS For, MAKING :BEARING Lmmes on sLEEvEs Application filed August 20, 1928. Serial No. 390,757.

This invention relates to bearing linings orl babbitt or some similar metal or partly of. some such relatively soft metal carriedupon a harder metal shell or backing.

The modern methods of making parts of machinery interchangeable especially parts' of automobiles and automobile engines ne cessitates the' production of these bearing linings to dimensions within very small tolerances. l Such precision of dimensions un-v der ordinary methods of production adds greatly to the cost and may make certain desired results almost prohibitive. These usual or common methods include the production of a rough sleeve or lining and its finishing to size by the removal ofthe excess material by cutting tools.

the rough blank.

This invention contemplates lthe production of what may be termed the lrough blank by aV casting process especially adapted to bring out the best possible interior structural compositionofthe bearing, such blank being of less than the finished size in some dimensions and more than thefinished'size in )other dimensions.

This rough blank is then subjected to an 40 exceedingly high forming pressure in a suit- -able die mechanism, which is capable of a plying sufficient pressure to force event e` steel backings, when such are used, to assume the desired finished dimensions.` The application of this tremendous pressure not only forms the shell to iit thediel space but'it also actually compacts the metal having somey what a similar effect to forging methods.

Such bearing shells are -usually heldin place in the bearings by doweling projections By my present methody I avoid all slow upon their oter surfaces which enter doweling openings yprovidedin the bearing housmg.' l. y

The provision of these doweling projectionson the sleeves which are sized by cutting has always been costly and unsatisfactory. vBy means of my precasting and pressure method of production these projections are readily produced and with practically no additional cost.

It is well known that the wearing quality of babbitt and such like bearings, is produced by relatively hard crystals such as tin-antimonoid copper and lead or various combinations thereof and commonly spokenof as tinanitimonoid crystals, etc., embedded in a lead, tin or similar matrix metal. .It is also Well known that the even and thorough distribution of such crystals over the whole bearing surface, such crystals being of substantially uniform size and covering the entire wearing surface, provides a wearing surface of maximumdurability and effectiveness.

One result of my improved method whether' the shell has a harder metal back or not is that the wearing or inner surface of the sleeve is so produced as to give a substantially uniform and even distribution vof these crystals in the casting operation and this desirable distribution is enhanced-by the pressure forming step which follows.`

Theuniform quick cooling of a bodyof r 'Babbittlmetal results in the uniform distribution of the tin-antimonoid crystals and on the other hand the retarded cooling results in a tougher body.

In my improved method, I cast the Babbitt metal in a mold which is so made that I quickly cool the inner or bearing surface and in some forms I preheat the outer side of the mold, thus retarding the cooling of the outer side of the sleeve, 1

AS these sleeves are relatively thin radially and especially as the Babbitt metal lining cast on harder metal backs are even thinner, one important feature of my invention relates to means for getting the Babbitt metal into the mold quick enough so that the mold is filled and perfect castings result particularly when AIl() the inner surface is rapidly cooled to produce the results desired as to internal structure.

For the production of the doweling button or projection upon the outer cylindrical surface of the finished bearing shell, andzwhich projection must be very accurately sized as to diameter, I provide a suitable mass or projection of the Babbitt metal upon the inner surface of the sleeve blank suicient in quantity so that when the sleeve is formed in the die there will be enough metal to fill the cavity provided in the outer part of the die space in which the doweling projection is produced.

To make absolutely sure of having sufficient metal present to produce the finished sleeve and allow for the compacting and elongation of ,the sleeve, I purposely make the casting thicker than the finished size and I provide extrusion slots, preferably at the longitudinal edges of the sleeve through which any excess metal may be forced.

In practicing my invention in the production of backed sleeves, I preferably first dip the backing in melted tin to coat the surface and cause the melted tin to adhere to the back over the whole exterior surface. In my present method of making bearing sleeves, this pretinning accomplishes two purposes, first the tin coating on the back assures the adherence of the babbitt and the fact that as the back leaves the tin bath it is hot and it is placed in the casting machine in this heated condition assists in the owing of the Babbitt metal over the whole interior surface of the back. In other words, I preferably place the back in the casting machine while still hot from the dipping in thetin and consequently the side of the mold formed b v the back is preheated and not only assists in the casting operation but delays the cooling of the cast Babbitt lining which latter is of considerable importance.

In forming these backs I may provide a pressed out projection in the place where I want a doweling projection to be formed and I may further perforate the bottom of such projection. When the bottom of the projec- -tion in the back is perforated, I provide a closure for the perforation during the cast- A ing operation to prevent the escape of the molten metal at this point. Later such perforation permits the Babbitt metal to be yforced Vout to form the completed and sized doweling projection. When the projection is'not perforated, the extra mass of babbitt which I provide on the inner side of the casting assists in forcing the partly formed projection on the back to fill the cavity and produce a properly sized doweling projection.

One feature of my invention relates to a. novel method of sealing the prepared sleeve backs to the mainbody of the mold, to properly seal the mold cavity and prevent the escape of the molten metal therefrom.

To ensure the filling of the mold with the one chilled wall, I provide means for accelerating the removal of the air from the mold and the introduction of the molten metal into same. In other words, I withdraw the air from the top of the mold and force the metal into the bottom of the mold thus filling the mold so quickly that substantially no cold shuts can occur and the castings are substantially all perfect. l

As the parts of the mold are brought into casting position, the back is automatically sealed in position and the mold is ready to receive the molten metal.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which- Fig. l is a fragmentary front-elevation of a novel die-casting machine especially adapted for practicing my improved method of making castings;

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary vertical sectional view. on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary horizontal sectional views on the lines 4-4, 5-5 and 6 6, respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 7--7 of F ig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2;

.Fig 9 is a perspective view of one of the cast shells;

Fig. l() is a transverse section of the cast shell or bearin sleeve showing it as it leaves the dies and ta ren on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. l1, is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the bearing sleeve or liner as it appears when finished.

In said drawings 1 represents a die mold such as I use in casting Babbitt metal linings 2 onto the interior surface of half cylindrical its axis vertical and is made up of a cylin drical member 4 mounted on a block 5 and ing formed with a half cylindrical bearinglike opening for receiving the core member 4. The clamping `member 8 has another function which will be described later.

- The lower closure member constitutes a cross bar or yoke which, as shown, in Fig. 1, extends across the machine and is yieldingly supported at its ends on spring mountings 1l metal backings 3. The die mold is set with which tendto normally hold lthe bar-7 atthe upperl limit of its movement. The movement upward of the bar 7 is limited by vertical rods or bolts 12 forming parts of the Is spring mounting and having adjustable abutments 13 at their upper ends in the form of a pair of locknuts on each rod.

The machine shown has a pair of molds 1 i as shown in Fig. 1. The ,bar 7 is provided with an inclined bearing ring part 14 adapted to contact with the outer square edge of the lower end of the bearing shell and by reason of the endwisepressure to which the bearing shell is submitted inthe mold closing operation, the mold is sealed at this point. The pressure is suilcient to cause the said edge of the shell to conform to the inclined bearing surface 1-4' if it does not conform before the mold closes.

The bar 7 forms a connection between the mold and the supply of molten metal.` will be described later.

The upper closure 6 comprises a long cylin'- drical member which is mounted at its upper end inxa cross bar 15 from which it hangs. As shown in Fig. ,1, the two upper closures 6 are carried by the same cross bar 15 one at each end. l

Each upper .closure has an inclined bearing surface 16 adapted to close upon the outer square edge of theupper end of the bearing vious manner;

- The core member 4 has'a central stem 18 extending upwardly from its upperv end and `within the upper closure member 6. A slight relative movement is provided between the core member`4 andf the upper closure member 6. This is accomplished by a pin and slot connection between the two, a cross pin 19 beingmounted in the vmember 6 and passing through a vertical slot 20 inthe shank 18 of the core member 4. The core.

memberjis normally held at the lower limit of its relative movement by aocomprssion .spring21 mounted in a central opening 22 in the member 6 and pressing upon the upper Vend of the shank 18. The spring is adjust- .able asto pressure by a screw'23 carried by the member 6.a`nd carrying aspring abutment 24 onI its inner-end.

The relative movement between the two members u4 a'nd 6 is Ifor a purpose to be described.

The cross bar 15 ismovable'up and-downto open and close the mold. cross bar is connected by a tubular rod 25 with a piston carried by a fixed cross barvor yoke 28 formin partof the frame of the machine and he d rigidly upon the upper end of fixed parts 29 upon which the lower closure-yoke 7 is guided in its up and down movements.

The cylinder 27 within which the piston 26 is movable up and d'own is connected at its upper and lower ends by pipes 30 and 31 respectively with a four-way valve of usual constructionshown at 32 and by means of which air pressure can be applied to and exhausted from either end of the cylinder. 'Ihe air supplyis shown at 33 and the exhaust at 34. This valve is adapted to be controlled by the operator through the medium of suitable valveoperating mechanism 35 which usually leads to a footpedal not shown. Suffice it to say that by this means the several parts of the mold are closed together and the yoke 15 is lifted allowing .the lower yoke 7 to be lifted by its lift springs and allowing the mold member 4' to be projected from the upper' closure member 6 as has been described.

The casting machine is provided with an open topped metal pot 3 6 for containing the molten metal Vfor the casting of the bearing linings.

In the pot 36 is mounted a pair of nozzles 37 through which the molten metal is delivered to the two molds. These nozzles are rigidly mounted in the pot and each has formed. therewith or rigidly carried thereb a cylinder 38 in which a piston 39 is movab y mounted. By means of this piston the molten metal-is drawn into the nozzle from the pot through an vopen-ing 40, a relatively livht weight metalball'valve 41 being provided5 to prevent the return of the metal to the pot upon Athe inward movement of the piston. The p1ston is adapted to be moved out and in by means o f a hand lever 42 and a'linkage-connection 43`suitable for the purpose.

l-26-mounted within a'cylinder v27 which is The inlet 40 is arranged in a top wall of the nozzle casting so that a relatively light weight ball valve can be used and whic will float on the heavier molten metal and be in position to float up against and be seated upon the valve seat immediately the piston 39 starts inwardly and will 'immediately' drop away from theseat when the piston begins to move outwardly.

' Each nozzle 37 is provided with a delivery nozzle 44 which is secured in the upper endl of the nozzle 37 and is removable therefrom.

This delivery nozzle has a central delive passage 45 and dier'ent delivery nozzles Wit different sized delivery openings can be provided for different purposes. Furthermore, 'a as the .nozzles 44 may deteriorate in use, they are thus made easil removable. v The nozzles" 441 are cone-shape at their delivery ends" 46 and these ends are adapted to seat in similarly Vist coned seats in the closure bar 7 as best shown in Fig. 2.

The nozzles 37 being rigidly mounted, the bar 7 is caused to be pressed down upon the nozzles in the mold closing operation of the machine.

The mold is closed by means of the air cylinder 27 at the top of themachine. The operator by means of a handle 47 places a backing shell 3 in position in relation to the mold parts 4, 6 and 7, the piston 26 and the parts carried thereby being in their upper positions; then the operator operates the valve 32 and causes the pist an 26 to bepushed down.

` The final result is to force the upper `part 6 down toward the lower part 7 and cause the backs 3 to be clamped between them.l

Through the backings 3, the lower member 7 is forced down to close upon the nozzles 37, f

the member 7 being pushed down against the lifting action of the springs 11. A t the same time the core member seats at itsI lower end in the lower member 7 and the upper member 6 is pushed down upon the core member. The block member 5, as shown in Fig. 2, fits in between the lower member 7 and the upper member 6, and prevents too` much pressure being applied to the bearing backings in the I closing' operation.

Having closed the mold as described, the next operation is to force the molten metal upinto the mold space. This space shown at 48 is in semi-cylindrical form, the backing shell 3 forming its outer wall, the core member 4 forming its inner wall and the closure members 6 and 7 forming its end walls. The lower closure member 7 is provided with suitable delivery openings or passages 49 connecting the nozzles 44 with the mold spaces 48.

In the form of bearing liner shown inthe drawings, the lineris provided'with a doweling projection 50 on its back. The backing v shell 3 is formed with a dowelng projection 51 on its back and as shown in the drawings, this may extend out a less distance than the finished doweling projection 50 and its outer end maybe open as shown in Fig. 10. f This is done to permitl the Babbitt metalcast on the inside of the shell to be forced through and complete the doweling projection as .shown at 52, Fig. 11.v This is accomplished in a second o erationby means of suitable dies and very heavy pressure. For assisting the formation of the vfini-shed dowelin projection 50, thegcore member is provided with a depression 54 at the point vopposite'to the doweling projection 51 on the backing shell which provides a rounded projection 55 of the Babbitt metal on the inner surface of the cast liner and in position to assist in producing the lfinished doweling projection 50 in the final'. pressing operation.

or sleeves and method of making same, tiled June 5, 1928, Serial Number 283,109.

The mold member 4 is provided with means for cooling it to a certain extent. This cooling of the mold member 4 not only prevents it from becoming too hot in use, but it also has the effect of causing the inside surface of the Babbitt metal casting to cool quickly. This is a benefit as it produces more regularly distributed, smaller and more numerous tin-antimonoid crystals in this wearing part of the bearing. On the contrary, the bearing backing 3 is preferably hot when placed in the machine and this tends to retard the cooling of the babbitt in contact with it. This is also beneficial as such retarded cooling tends to toughen the Babbitt metal and make it less liable to fracture.

The backing shells 3 are preferably placed in the machine immediately after they have fore they have cooled. They are tinned to cause the Babbitt metal to adhere properly to them in the casting operation.

The means shown for cooling the mold member or core 4 consists of a chamber 56 in the core member 4 opposite to the depression 54. The clamping member 8 is located at this point and is hollow as shown at 57. The chamber 57 in the member 8 extends centrally through it and is closed at its outer end by a screw plug 58 which carries a pipe 59 which extends through the member 8 into the chamber 56 and through which cooling fluid can be supplied through an outer con- `nection 60. The flow circuit is completed by an outlet connection 61 entering the side of the hollow member 8.

The member 6 is also water-cooled near its lower end by a water space 62 provided with suitable inlet and outlet connections.

As v'explained hereinbefore, the molten metal, is forced up into the mold space by the operation of the metal pump, that is, the piston 39, lit being necessary to let the air in the mold space escape so that the metal can till same. This is sometimes effectively accomplished by the provision of suitable vent openings at the top of the mold space, the incoming molten metal pushing the air out in advance. In this presentinstance, however, we have a peculiar situation, in that the whole moldspace is quite thin or narrow and has extensive side walls, one' of which is' cooled. This would tend to cause the metal to set vquickly and possibly prevent it from properlyiilling thermold. To assist the proper and yquick filling of the mold space, I provide means for removing the airy in advance of the entranuce of the metal, practically producing a partial vacuum in the mold space, which in effect, assists in drawing theI metal into the mold space. f

To prevent ,the vmetal being discharged from the top of the mold, .I provide an outlet for the air which is so thin, in other words the hot Babbitt metal is immediately cooled by the Walls and does not enter in between them. However, the walls are spaced apart suliciently to permit the air to be'drawn out in advance of the metal.

A s shown at 63 the mold member 6 is provided with a chamber which is connected by .a pipe 64 with a source of vacuum pressure. Leading from this chamber 63 are a'number of small passages 65 which end at the top o'f the member 4, that is at thejoint 66 between the members 4 and 6; As explained hereinbefore, the body, of the/mold member 4 enters up into the lower end of the member 6 and extends above the top mold closing and 'sealing the surface 16, andthe joint between these two members, as shown at 67,

is slightly open, that is it may be but a fewl thousandths of an inch but it is suiicien't to centering means being inclined and adapted permitthe withdrawal of the air by means of the vacuum pressure applied through the connection 64.

method of quickly filling the mold space with the molten metal, such forming the subjectmatter of my co-pending application for patent on methods and means for die casting, tiled October 8, 1928, Serial Number 311,181.

It is necessary to close the. open dowel 51 on the backing shell 3 vwhen filling the mold space. This is accomplished by means ofthe handit/col 47 whichis formed with a depression 68 to receive the formed and also a relatively softv pac ng disk`69 which is adapted /to be pressed against the outer edge of thehollow projection 51 and seal same.

The mold having been closed, as has been described, the vacuum draws the air outof the mold space and-the molten metal is forced into the mold by a downward movement ci) the hand lever 42. As soon as the metal is set in the mold, and this occurs almost instantly, the lever 42 is pulled up, thus withdrawingthe piston 39. This action allows the ball valve 41 to Vdrop from its seat and permits thel molten metal to sink down in the nozzle 37 and its connections to the mold space, thus cleaning these passages ready for .another casting operation.

It should be noted that'the upper part 70 of the mold space 48 is thinner radially than the lower part. This i's'for the purpose of providing practically just enough metal in y this part of the lining for producing the oil grooves and rings with which many of such `linings are provided. These lalternate oil grooves and rings are produced in the latter ypressing operation when the doweling pro--` jection 50 is finished and the lining is accurately sized. Such narrowing of the space at the top enhancesl the utility of the or similar metal liningon the backing ojection 51v mold. Y

I do not herein claim the novel method of making lined bearing sleeves, such forming the subject matter of my co-pending di-` visional application filed 30th March, 1931, Serial N o. 526,513.

I claim 1. In a die casting apparatus, a semi-cylindrical mold part, an opposed thin bearing lining backing, opposed mold parts between which the backing is clamped in opposition to the semi-cylindrical mold part, centering means on said opposed mold parts concentric with the semi-cylindrical'mold part for centering the backing in relation to said semicylindricall mold part and 'for sealing the ends of the backing, `and means for forcing to engage therouter corners of the ends of r the backing. Ido not herein claim broadly the described 3. In .an-'improved die casting apparatus for making bea-rin liners, a semi-cylindrical mold part, means or sealing a bearing liner backing shell opposed to said mold provide a mildtspace vfor casting a shell, said backing shellfhaving a partly ormed cylindrical mold part having a depression in its face opposed to said partly formed doweling projection' to produce an extra thickness of metal at' this point for use in completing the doweling projection by a later step, an means for forcing molten metal into said die .space to fill same.

4. In a mechanism' for casting babbitt or similar linings on harder thin metal' liner backings; an

ing, mold end closure members having beveled or inclined surfaces adapted to englage outer' corners of the ends of a backing s ell,A

and means for pressing the mold end closure members toward'each other to seal these mem- `.bers against the ends of the backing shell.

shell, and means for forcing a backing shell against said beveled surfaces `for sealing the L mold at these ,ploints 6. a mec anism for casting babbitt or similar llinin y on harderthin metal liner backings an y including a mold memberl part to v abbitt including a mold member adapted tol form the' inner surface of the linpressure plus vacuum method of lling the' the walls of which are so close together that doweling projection. on its back, the semi-4 I adapted to form the inner surface of the lining, said mold member having beveled surfaces'at its sides adapted. to engaged by the longitudinal outer edges of a backing shell, means for forcing a backing shell against said beveled surfaces for sealing the mold at these points, mold end closure members having beveled or inclined surfaces adapted to engage the outer edges of the ends of a backing shell, and means for pressing the mold end closure members toward each other to seal these members against the ends of the backing shell.

In witness thatl I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aix my signature this 6th day of August, 1928.

BERGER STOCKFLETH. 

